Six Flags: Stop Discriminating Against People With Dreadlocks

Like many students across the country, I have been looking for a summer job before I start my senior year at Pennsylvania State University where I’m studying engineering. As I’m living at home in Maryland for the summer, I thought working at the nearby Six Flags would be a great summer job. I’ve been going to Six Flags with my family for years and have even had season passes on occasion, so I applied for a food service job. However, as I started to go through the interview process, I was disturbed to find out that I couldn’t work at Six Flags because of the texture of my hair. Six Flags has a strict policy that prohibits employees from having dreadlocks (or "locks" as some people call them) as they classify them as an “extreme” hairstyle along with mohawks and unnatural coloring.

Locks are predominantly worn by African-American, Caribbean and African people as an expression of how our hair grows naturally. My hair is important to me and part of who I am. I’ve had locks for about five years. Being disqualified as a potential employee because of my hair made me feel defeated; as my hair is representation of my personal growth through the years. It hurts to hear major employers like Six Flags call my natural hair and texture “extreme.” Unfortunately, throughout history, many people have demonized locks.

It is disparaging for Six Flags to accept substantial amounts of money every year at their parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada from patrons who wear their hair as it grows naturally, but the company would refuse to hire any of those patrons with locks. We spend way too much money at places like Six Flags Theme Parks for them to discriminate against any members of our community. Let us also exercise our voice with our dollars.

There is no excuse in 2012 for such abhorrent employment policies. In a time when the "voice of the people" can indeed be witnessed to move mountains, let us in one accord raise our voice. In a country that purports itself to be the greatest "melting pot" of social values and ideals, it’s time for Six Flags to stop its discriminatory policy by categorically refusing to employ people because of their natural hair. Please join me in asking Six Flags to stop discriminating against people with locks.

I am disappointed to hear that Six Flags discriminates against potential employees with dreadlocks. Far from an “extreme” hairstyle, dreadlocks (or "locks") are a natural way of wearing hair for huge numbers of people.

I find it disparaging that Six Flags would accept large amounts of money each year from patrons with locks -- and all kinds of natural hairstyles -- but would refuse to allow them to work at your theme parks no matter what their qualifications.

There is no excuse in 2012 for such abhorrent employment policies. I am calling on Six Flags to stop discriminating against people because of their hairstyle and texture. Please remove locks from your list of prohibited hairstyles. Summer is the prime season for Six Flags, but if your company doesn’t do the right thing, I may need to avoid your parks this year.